beautiful.crazy.adventurehttps://aualum11.wordpress.com
a southern girl in the cityMon, 16 Oct 2017 22:13:43 +0000enhourly1http://wordpress.com/https://s2.wp.com/i/buttonw-com.pngbeautiful.crazy.adventurehttps://aualum11.wordpress.com
A Day in The City https://aualum11.wordpress.com/2017/04/02/a-day-in-the-city/
https://aualum11.wordpress.com/2017/04/02/a-day-in-the-city/#respondSun, 02 Apr 2017 05:27:27 +0000http://aualum11.wordpress.com/?p=947More]]>I’ve been blessed to be able to have explored some of the best cities in this country and SF is, by far, one of my favorites. However, anytime I go into the city, there’s some plan or reason why I’m there. So, I decided last Saturday, I would go into the city and just see what I could find and do while exploring. I had a few general ideas of things I wanted to see that I hadn’t previously done but no concrete plans.

First thing I had to decide on was how I was going to get there. Driving in the city is horrible and parking is a nightmare not to mention a killer on the bank account. But, for me personally, I love driving over the Bay Bridge and I decided I would just drive over. I’ve always loved driving over big bridges and the Bay Bridge has become one of my favorites.

Side note: One of my best app finds, so far, since moving here has to be SpotHero. I ended up not paying a dime for parking during my day in the city and I knew my car was safe in garage parking. Definitely try it out if you’re looking for cheap but safe parking in a big city. There’s also codes online for discounted parking.

First stop of the day was the Embarcadero and the Ferry Building. While I was walking over to the waterfront, I noticed there was something going on in the park. Turns out, it was Kevin Hart’s Rally event. I hung around for just a little bit before starting my day but unfortunately, Kevin didn’t come out while I was there:/ I did see some of it on his Snapchat though. I walked through the market place and saw a lot of goodies I wanted to get but I knew that wasn’t a good idea since I was going to be out all day. Next time though! Fresh vegs, hand cut meats and so many desserts.

After the Ferry Market, I headed towards Coit Tower. I wanted to go with my mom when she was in town but we just didn’t have time. Let me tell you, Filbert Steps are NO JOKE! It was intense but I did it from bottom to top. Of course, I stopped to catch a glimpse of the view just a few times. Once I got to Coit, the views were even more impressive. You have a 360 degree view of the city and the Bay. It was a nice, clear, “Karl the Fog” free day. It’s a touristy thing to do but I think you should definitely climb Filbert Steps and go to the top of Coit Tower at least once while you’re in the city. Just be careful on those stairs if you have any serious medical conditions because the elevation changes pretty significantly – there are other ways to get up there via metro or buses and there’s actually parking up there too. (The healthcare provider in me needs to throw that out there!) What goes up, must come down…into LitttleItaly and Chinatown. (At least going down all of the stairs is better than going up more).

After my time at Coit Tower and TelegraphHill, I decided to make my way through Littly Italy as I was headed to Chinatown. Let’s be honest, I was really looking forward to some good Chinese food but once I got there, I just couldn’t find anything that I really wanted. I was even prepared with cash (I usually forget that part). So, I ended up walking through the streets and getting some postcards to send to my family/friends back in the South.

The last time I went to Chinatown in SF was years ago – I think I was a sophomore/junior in college. While we were there last time, they had a big parade and everything. I was upset when I missed the Chinese New Year this year because I knew the celebration was something else over there!

I made my way through most of the main areas and some of the side streets, eventually heading to the famous gateway – Dragon’s Gate. No parade this time but I always love seeing the decorations and bright colors all around!

By this time, it was getting close to lunch (or past actually since I didn’t eat breakfast). I didn’t even know where to start because of all the different good options. After Yelping a few places that I might not have otherwise known about, I decided on The Bird on New Montgomery St.

I’ll tell you this, coming from the South, I love a good chicken sandwich. Throw on a little spice, some pickles, add ranch and I’m good to go. I know a thing or two about a good chicken sandwich and The Bird definitely lived up to its reputation of “best chicken sandwich in SF”. I got the spicy bird (no mayo – always!) and was lucky enough to find a seat outside in the sun. I’ve never been big on taking pictures of my food before I eat it but this one would’ve been IG worthy (I still didn’t do it though:/). I, unfortunately, couldn’t eat it all because 1) I had another stop in mind for later in the afternoon and 2) it was pretty big but oh so very good and worth it!

After lunch, I decided to get on the Metro and head up to Alamo Square where the infamous Painted Ladies reside. (Disclaimer: normally, I would’ve walked but my legs weren’t having this SF hills after all the steps that morning and I still had a few more things I wanted to see so I decided on the quicker option). As a kid, I LOVED “Full House” and always wanted to see those houses in SF, so this was the day my inner kid got her wish. Granted, they look a whole lot different now but I still knew what they were when I saw them! Next stop of the day was close by DoloresPark near the Castro District. I walked a little bit but I also jumped back on the Metro and headed for Bi-Rite Creamery. This little SF gem I found on Pinterest and I was craving some ice cream so it just worked for me.

Of course, like most places in the city, there was a pretty good line but from what I had heard about the place, the wait was worth it. So I just stood there for a while and catched up with an old friend from the past.

When it got to be my turn, I had every intention of going with my favorite – salted caramel but I decided to change it up a little and see what the other flavors were like (they let you taste test before choosing your flavors). I had heard everyone loved the Honey Lavender – it was good but not my favorite. I’m not a big fan of lavender. I am, however, a big fan of the Boozy Irish speciality flavor they had going on. Just the right mix of “boozy” and “creamy”. The Boozy Irish root beer float was definitely a winner! #pinterestwin

By this time, it was mid afternoon and there was two more things I really wanted to see before I headed back home but they involved driving so I headed back to my car.

You can’t go to SF and not see the famous Lombard St in the Russian Hill neighborhood of SF which is hailed as the “crookedest street in the world”. Now, if you don’t know about Lombard St – this block of Lombard St is so steep they had to add 8 hairpin turns to help prevent accidents and injuries. It’s a traditional tourist spot and people love to walk/drive down it. (Did you know: according to the Internet, Lombard is not even the “crookedest” street in SF much less the world – the crookedest street in SF is actually Vermont St in the Potrero Hill District (I believe); however, Lombard is more famous and is more visually appealing).

I decided to walk down (even though that meant more stairs – my calves and flutes were getting an extra workout today) so I could take a few pictures and honestly, I wasn’t in the mood to sit in traffic to drive down a block. Maybe one day…It is pretty interesting to look at but could you imagine living on this block! So many cars going down for no reason AND you have to have a special pass you show just to get to your house! Craziness

And last but not least, one of the things I was looking forward to the most was the drive up to Twins Peak. The drive was gorgeous and the views from the top were incredible! I would love to see the views at night but I’m not sure how I would feel about driving to the top in the dark!

While I was headed to my final destination, I was flagged down by a guy who was by his car, which appeared to be not running. I hesitated for a second just because I’ve seen way too many shows and heard way too many stories about what could go wrong. But, I ended up stopping because we were on a busier street and hoped if anything happened, someone would help me out. (And if I were in the same position, I would hope someone could help me out if I couldn’t call AAA).

Turns out, the guys battery had died and the area where we were, while busy, had no cell service so he couldn’t call for help. Thankfully, his battery started with a jump and nothing bad happened! My good deed had been done for the day (because I wasn’t even supposed to be on that road – my GPS took me to the wrong street). Now, I have to admit, I might not have stopped if it was night…I’m a little paranoid about that kinda thing but I’m glad I could help him out.

A few short mins later, I made it to the top of Twins Peak and had one of the most stunning 360 degree views of the city, the ocean and the Bay. Photos really don’t do it justice! Clear views without a touch of fog to be seen but the wind…it was almost too much.

By this time, it was getting to be early evening and I was ready to be home and I knew, even though it was Saturday, traffic would be waiting for me on the Bay Bridge and on I80.

I’ve definitely learned some of the traffic patterns around here…that’s for sure!

I was able to mark a few things off of my SF to-do list and now, I can add even more things I want to do. I want to check out some of the museums, go to the Zoo (I know, I’m still a kid:/), definitely hit up AT&T park for a Giants game and so much more in both SF and Oakland. I can’t believe I’ve already been here for 3 months and I only have 3 months left before I have to decide what to do next and where I’m going to do it!

Until then…my next big trip is HEADING BACK HOME! I’m headed back to the south in less than 2 weeks for the arrival of my new niece or nephew and to see all of my family and friends! I. Can. Not. Wait!

]]>https://aualum11.wordpress.com/2017/04/02/a-day-in-the-city/feed/0aualum11Wooded Trails and Coastal Views 🌊🌲https://aualum11.wordpress.com/2017/03/24/wooded-trails-and-coastal-views-%f0%9f%8c%8a%f0%9f%8c%b2/
https://aualum11.wordpress.com/2017/03/24/wooded-trails-and-coastal-views-%f0%9f%8c%8a%f0%9f%8c%b2/#respondFri, 24 Mar 2017 05:46:40 +0000http://aualum11.wordpress.com/2017/03/24/wooded-trails-and-coastal-views-%f0%9f%8c%8a%f0%9f%8c%b2/More]]>I’ve been in the Bay Area for almost 3 months and while there’s still a lot of things in the city that I want to see and experience, there was one area in particular I was ready to explore in the Bay Area.

So, EARLY last Saturday (I’m talking 6:30 am early – you have to understand, I’ve had the joy of sleeping in to almost 8 am every day of this assignment because patients don’t want to wake up early either ) I woke up, got ready and headed for a days worth of adventure. First stop of my trip was Muir Woods.

I’ve wanted to explore this area for quite some time and my mom & I had talked about going but we just didn’t have the time.

It amazes me that this environment and natural surroundings have been on this earth for so long and lived through so much. I mean, they were here when the dinosaurs were here! That’s a freaking long time Not only that, they are some of the largest/tallest trees on the planet. (I know the largest tree is down south of us in Sequoias National Park – I still haven’t made it there yet but I will one day!)

It’s something incredible to experience and it just felt really good to get away from the hustle and bustle of the Bay life. I could’ve spent several more hours there hiking through the woods but there were some other places I wanted to see that day.

Next stop of my trip was Muir Beach and Overlook. I kind of stumbled across this little gem but I was glad I found it.

It was definitely cold up there and windy as all get out, but you really can’t beat that view to help clear your mind.

After a little bit of time, I hopped back in the car and didn’t know where I wanted to go next. With no clear stop in mind, I drove for a little while and eventually wound up in Bolinas. Bolinas is a small little coastal town that feels a million miles away from the city and just what I needed for the day.

One of the last stops I had in mind after my coastal drive was the Marin Headlands. Oh. My. Word. That’s all I have to say about those views.

It felt like the views went on forever – the city, the Bay, the Golden Gate, the Pacific and so much more! I can’t believe it took me this long to get there.

Pictures really don’t do it justice and the weather wasn’t really working in my favor that day. But for real, if you’re ever in the Bay Area, go to the Headlands!

I also drove to the fort side of the Headlands and got some more Bridge and city shots from a different angle.

After several hours in Marin county, I crossed back over that infamous Bridge and headed to the Presidio. Beaches in California aren’t like that of the south but you can’t beat a gorgeous bay view and if you can’t already tell, I’m kinda obsessed with the GGB. ❤

There’s still so much I want to see and experience in SF and the Bay Area before I leave in July – so much so that I don’t feel like there’s ever enough time! I’m headed back there this Saturday to mark some more things off my SF check list! I can’t wait

What’s your favorite spot in SF or the Bay Area? What are some places I should check out that I may not know about?

Sunday – Day 3 was a bittersweet day and even San Francisco knew it. The weather had been really nice and pretty all weekend but when we woke up Sunday, it was gloomy and rainy. San Francisco was just as sad to see my mom leave as I was!

We made the best of the few hours we had left though. My mom wanted to ride/walk across the Golden Gate Bridge but since it was raining, driving would have to do. We made our way to the Marin County side of the bridge for some pictures while the weather wasn’t too bad.

The wind was something fierce that day! I had to delete most of the pictures we took of us because our hair looked so bad in the wind.

Anyways, we drove back over the bridge and stopped at the Visitors Center for some more pictures and some small gifts for my nephews.

After finishing up, we drove through some parts of Chinatown and downtown but wasn’t able to stop and explore because of my mom’s early flight

Last stop of my mom’s Cali trip had to be In-N-Out. I’ve become very used to this place during my time on the West Coast and I’ll definitely miss it when I leave in July. ☹️

I was dreading lunch coming to an end because I knew the next stop had to be the airport. I hate goodbyes, especially when I’m saying them to my mom and I’m not sure when I’ll see her again. It’s not like I can just get in my car and go see her like I’m used to. Cross country flights are long and expensive, you know.

I’ve loved being able to travel and see, experience new places but leaving my momma will never be a fun part of the process. I’m glad we got a few short days together in San Fran but wished we had a million more in this city!

Saturday – We woke up early that morning to get ready for a brand new adventure that neither one of us had ever experienced before. As I mentioned before, I wanted to do some things while my mom was out that neither one of us had done before to make it that much more of a special trip.

Our Saturday plans fit the bill perfectly. We were headed for Lake Tahoe to go snowmobiling! I was beyond excited for something like this but also kinda nervous. One, I’m from the south – we don’t get snow that often and when we do, it’s barely a few inches. Two, I’ve never driven a snowmobile and I sure didn’t want to hurt myself or worse, my mom.

Tahoe is about 3-3.5 hours from San Fran and the drive was pretty nice. Sometimes, I forget that California isn’t all big city and buildings and massive amounts of people. This drive reminded me of that.

As we got closer to Tahoe, you could tell the weather was changing and soon, we started see feet of snow on the ground. I’m talking snow higher than the height of my car!

We got to the hotel just in time to check in for our tour and rent our winter gear. I definitely didn’t want to freeze while I was our there! But, this is about the time when things started going not too good. I’ll skip most of that but let me just throw this out there, I’m not a big fan of people who steal things!

Let me explain – I had placed my sunglasses (a nice pair of Ray-bans) on the counter while I was trying my helmet on to make sure it fit. When I took the helmet off, my earring (one of my Tanzanite earrings I got from my mom on my birthday) pulled out of my ear and I couldn’t find it. I was freaking out! Not only because they are expensive, but also because there is a lot of sentimental value there and I had wanted a pair of these earrings for forever.

While I was freaking out about the earring and trying to find it, I stepped away from the counter for literally less than a minute. When I realized I didn’t have my sunglasses with me, I immediately went back to the counter and they were gone! I know, I know it’s my fault because I set them down and walked away but I’m more than 100% certain that who ever took them saw me put them down and start freaking about the earring. They could’ve easily given them to me instead of taking them! Good news is when I made it back to the hotel a good 12 hours later, I finally found the earring. Apparently, it hitched a ride in my bra for the day and oddly enough, I didn’t feel it at all and it didn’t fall out somewhere else. I’m still out some ray-bans and I haven’t had the heart to buy some more yet because I have other perfectly good sunglasses that are practically new but I sure do miss those sunglasses. I hope karma was a bitch!

Anyways, we started the trip with about a 15-20 min van ride to where we would get on the snowmobiles. After a quick introduction and tutorial to the machine, we were on our way. I was nervous at first but once I got the hang of it, it was a blast. One things is for sure though, driving up the mountain is definitely better than driving down the mountain!

View from the top of the mountain – 9,800 ft with 60 mph winds! It was absolutely gorgeous up there though.

My beautiful momma and I during our hot chocolate rest break. ❤

We ended up staying on the trails for 2-2.5 hours and had a blast. The best part is I didn’t wreck or cause any injuries! Haha

After coming back down the mountain and going back to the hotel, we went down to the lake for a few minutes.

I can’t wait to take a trip here in the summer. ‍♀️‍♀️☀️

Day 2 was definitely unforgettable and something I’ve never done before. I’m looking forward to the next trip to Tahoe already!

]]>https://aualum11.wordpress.com/2017/03/18/tahoe-or-bust-%e2%9d%84%ef%b8%8f%e2%9d%84%ef%b8%8f/feed/0aualum11Welcome to “The Rock”https://aualum11.wordpress.com/2017/03/14/welcome-to-the-rock/
https://aualum11.wordpress.com/2017/03/14/welcome-to-the-rock/#respondTue, 14 Mar 2017 06:29:49 +0000http://aualum11.wordpress.com/?p=897More]]>So, for anyone who knows me, you know how close I am to my mom. We talk and text multiple times EVERYDAY. If something goes wrong or if something good happens, she’s the first one to hear about it. I would absolutely be lost without her.

As you can imagine, being on the other side of the country for the past 6 months has been incredibly hard. Life gets in the way and throw in time change differences and some days, it’s really hard to get a conversation more than “love you and miss you”. (Disclaimer: I more than miss my dad and my sisters and my babies too!)

You can also imagine how excited I was when my momma finally booked her plane tickets and we had a weekend worth of plans here on the West Coast. I was looking to fill the weekend with things neither one of us have done!! I was BEYOND thrilled and literally couldn’t sleep the night before she got here, even though I had a day full of patients ahead of me.

Momma got into San Fran late Thursday night. We didn’t get to do much that night after getting to the hotel and eating a very late dinner. We had early plans the next morning and we had both been up all day so we crashed.

Day 1:

Friday – we woke up early and got ready for the day. We walked from our hotel in Union Square, Hotel Zelos, down to a local breakfast place on Mission St. before heading to Pier 33. Our main plans for the day was a tour of Alcatraz! We had both been on a boat tour of the bay but neither one of us had actually been on the island.

So we started our trip at Pier 33 and took a ferry ride over to the island. We decided to do a self guided tour so we could see things at our own pace and take as much time as we wanted (you can do tours with people who work there though if you want to).

As I mentioned in the post about Vegas, I’m OBSESSED with all things mob related and you don’t have a mob history without Alcatraz. Some of the most dangerous people of that time spent their sentences here and some of the most well known mobsters made this island their home for several years (or more). I was more than excited to walk around the cellhouse, stand in the jail cells and learn about this tiny islands history. Of course, Capone spent some time there too so that intrigued me even more. I’ve just always been fascinated by that kind of life – something that is so far away from my every day life.

We spent a good several hours there – walking around, looking at the views of the city and just enjoying the time there. If you get the chance, GO. It’s so worth it even if you don’t like history or mob related things.

After coming back to the city, we decided to walk down to Pier 39 and get some lunch since we hadn’t eaten for a few hours. However, before we made it to the restaurant, we had to stop and see the sea lions. I mean, you can’t go to Pier 39 and not see them. They are, by far, one of my favorite animals. They are so funny! I literally cried from laughing so hard while watching them.

There weren’t as many sea lions there as usual but those that were there put on a great show.

After watching the sea lions for a little while and having a good laugh, we found a Mexican place to have some lunch/dinner. You can NEVER go wrong with margaritas and chips&salsa. NEVER! (I also include cheese dip in there but apparently, the West Coast doesn’t know what cheese dip is).

We walked around the pier some and did a little bit of shopping. Found a candy store with what seemed like a thousand different varieties of taffy. Seriously, there was so many different flavors. Chicken & waffles flavored taffy anyone?! It exists…really. Haha. My mom got some stuff for the kids and I got my San Fran stuff that I was looking for.

After Pier 39, we headed down to Fisherman’s Wharf and Ghirardelli Square. I’m telling you, some of the best views of the city can be seen from Fisherman’s Wharf. I’ve absolutely loved this city from the first day I saw it. The sunset was amazing that day and of course, we stopped and got some candy and chocolate before heading back to the hotel.

By this time, it was going on 8 or 9 o’clock and we had literally been walking pretty much all day long! We decided to take a trolley back to the hotel because we just couldn’t walk those hills anymore.

Once back at the hotel, we decided to (surprise, surprise) walk around a little more before calling it a night. The next day was coming bright and early and we were more than excited for the next days plans!!

]]>https://aualum11.wordpress.com/2017/03/14/welcome-to-the-rock/feed/0aualum11Sunny skies && salty water breezes https://aualum11.wordpress.com/2017/02/13/sunny-skies-salty-water-breezes/
https://aualum11.wordpress.com/2017/02/13/sunny-skies-salty-water-breezes/#respondMon, 13 Feb 2017 07:37:48 +0000http://aualum11.wordpress.com/2017/02/13/sunny-skies-salty-water-breezes/More]]>Last week was rough for me. I haven’t pinpointed why exactly but as the days went on, my mood just wasn’t good and my mind was even worse.

It probably had something to do with the fact that it literally poured for 5 days straight with only a slight break overnight. I swear, it was like 6:30 am would come around and the flood gates would open up! And I’ll tell you something, that kind of rain sucks when you have to go to patient’s houses throughout the day!

So, when Saturday rolled around and there wasn’t a rain cloud in sight, I made the best of it! I woke up early (ish), got ready and jumped in my car. My brain was ready for the sandy beaches, salty air and sunny skies of the West Coast.

I decided I was going to make a trip to Santa Cruz. It’s not too far from the East Bay Area and I knew I could go to a couple other places as well.

I’ve been to Santa Cruz once before (about 8ish years ago) but I figured this would be a good place to get some postcards for the kids and an easy half-day/day trip for me. One day, I hope the kids can come and experience the boardwalk with me – I’m sure they would have fun! (Although, right now, they are doing a lot of construction/renovations).

The first thing I did when I got there was walked along the beach – there’s very few things I love more than smelling the salty air and hearing the waves crash at the beach and after the week I had, I was more than happy to get a little moment to myself.

You can tell by the beach that the weather had been a mess the week before!

After a little while, I stopped and got a few postcards to send back home and some good saltwater taffy.

I didn’t stay too long at the boardwalk and I didn’t ride any rides this time but the trip was well worth it. It felt like I got a good recharge.

Once I left the boardwalk, I decided to continue on the PCH drive. If you remember, when I came back from LA, I did the coastal drive from Malibu to Monterey. So I figured I would do a little more of the drive since I was so close and it would be different scenery from the interstate! You really can’t beat coastal driving on a gorgeous day☀️

Now, I just have to go from San Diego to LA, Monterey to Santa Cruz (although I’m pretty sure that’s how we got to Monterey during my first trip San Fran 8ish years ago), and San Fran to the Oregon border – slowly but surely

First stop on the drive was the Natural Bridges State Park. I wish I could’ve stayed for sunset, I know I could’ve gotten some amazing pictures!! It was so incredibly windy that day and I couldn’t get as many good pictures as I would’ve liked but the views there were incredible.

After a little time, I got back in the car and headed up Highway 1. Half Moon Bay was also on the agenda for the drive. HMB is one of those spots that you pretty much always hear about when talking about the PCH drive. Pictures just don’t do it justice though!

After about half a day or so, I made my way back to the city and crossed over the Bay Bridge back home. I really wanted to spend some time downtown in San Francisco but I figured I’d wait a few more weeks until my momma was in town!!!! I CANNOT WAIT!!❤

It’s amazing what a few solid hours of coastal views, salty air and good music will do to your heart and mind! I’m ready for a new week – week 4! I can’t believe I’ve already been here a month. There’s something special about this place and I’m loving being able to call it my home for the next few months.

BTW – if you have any recommendations/local places/must do things in the San Fran/East Bay Area, let me know! I’ve got a few things in mind for when my mom comes to town but I want to make sure this trip is incredible!

]]>https://aualum11.wordpress.com/2017/02/13/sunny-skies-salty-water-breezes/feed/0aualum11A New City, A New Adventurehttps://aualum11.wordpress.com/2017/01/30/a-new-city-a-new-adventure/
https://aualum11.wordpress.com/2017/01/30/a-new-city-a-new-adventure/#respondMon, 30 Jan 2017 07:47:31 +0000http://aualum11.wordpress.com/2017/01/30/a-new-city-a-new-adventure/More]]>So, after my first assignment ended, I was able to go back home for a week. It was the first time I’ve seen my family and my adorable niece and nephews since October! That week went by way too fast but a lot happened in those 7 days as well. I have a new niece now – Savannah Nicole. I got to see pretty much all of my family and most of my really good friends. I got to love on my nieces and nephews and hear their sweet laughter and giggles and feel the best hugs that they give.

I’ve missed them so much I can hardly stand it and it nearly broke me having to say goodbye again – knowing it was going to be 6 months before I see them again. In those 6 months, I’ll miss birthdays and Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. I’ll miss soccer games and baseball games and wrestling matches. It really is almost too much for me to handle but then I remember why I do what I do.

I rememeber that travel has been a dream of mine for longer than I can remember. I remember that I’m showing my nieces and nephews that you can conquer your dreams and do so much more than you could ever imagine. I remember that I’m showing not only them, but also myself, that you’re not limited to where you were born and where you grew up.

I remind myself that going outside of your comfort zone is one of the best things you can do for yourself…and your family. It makes you appreciate the time you have when you’re home. It helps you come up with special things that allows you to include your family in your new journey. It helps you evolve, grow and change in ways you never thought possible. It makes you want to reach farther and do so much more than you’ve ever thought before. And one of the most important things it helps you do is to face the obstacles that have previously stopped you – worry, anxiety, fear, self doubt.

Is this journey perfect and without struggle? Absolutely not. The first 3 months were hard – especially December. The next few months will be hard too because I’m missing A LOT of things. It’s not easy to get home. I’m literally on the other side of the country. But I know, this journey is important and it’s necessary. This journey is helping me become a better person, daughter, sister, aunt, friend and so much more.

I’ve officially been in the East Bay Area for a week now. This time, one week ago, I was moving into a new home with people I had only talked to on the phone once. I know, sounds crazy, and it’s something I’ve never done before and never thought I would do, but everything was fully checked out first by my recruiter. My gut was telling me it would work out ok and so far, thankfully, it has.

Anyways, I’ve officially started my second assignment. Home Health. Something I’ve never done before but have been interested in for a while now. It’s really hard to get into HH without experience so this seemed like a no brainer. And the location is top notch.

I’m really excited to be in this area. I love the Bay Area and have always considered San Francisco one of my favorite cities on the West Coast. Now, I get to spend 6 months exploring the area even more!

There’s always so much to see and do – some of the best restaurants, events and outdoor adventures all within a very short distance. I seriously don’t even know where to start.

The last time I went to the city was 7-8 years ago so I know things have changed. I’m ready to start marking even more stuff off my wish list.

If you have any fun suggestions for the Bay Area, please let me know. I want to see the touristy stuff but I also want to experience what makes this area so special too. I love getting to know some of the local spots that aren’t overrun with tourist.

Until next time

Check out this view from the backyard! Perfect overlook of the Bay, the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz and so much more.

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]]>https://aualum11.wordpress.com/2017/01/30/a-new-city-a-new-adventure/feed/0aualum11gimg_473128 in the City of Angelshttps://aualum11.wordpress.com/2017/01/22/28-in-the-city-of-angels/
https://aualum11.wordpress.com/2017/01/22/28-in-the-city-of-angels/#respondMon, 23 Jan 2017 04:21:19 +0000http://aualum11.wordpress.com/?p=842More]]>So, in my previous post, I mentioned I had taken another trip and was able to mark off some items on my “bucket list”. I’m finally getting around to writing about that trip – again, almost a month later – and after I’ve already had another trip! I promise I’ll get better one day about putting everything into words:/

I was off for a 4 day weekend for my birthday and Christmas and unfortunately, that just wasn’t enough time to fly home considering it’s a cross country trip. So, I decided I wanted to go to a new city and do what I love best for my birthday this year…travel & explore.

I picked LA because it was fairly close to Fresno (only 3.5 hours) and it was in close proximity to a lot of things that I’ve wanted to see/do for a while now. So, the day before my birthday, I set out on the drive to LA after I got off work. I decided on the Omni Hotel Downtown which was amazing! Great views of downtown and close to a lot of good places.

My first day in LA started off real early – 4am early! I headed to Long Beach with plans to go to Catalina Island for a 4.5 hour off roading tour of the island – the part not normally seen if you’re just going to Avalon. Catalina is this cute little island about an hour away from the California coast by boat. As I woke up and got ready, I noticed it was raining! (Go figure right). I decided to go on to the island because the weather was supposed to be better there AND I was getting to do the ferry over for free because of my birthday. Well, the weather wasn’t better…it was POURING! I was even told by one of the coffee shop employees that that was the first rain the island had seen in SEVERAL MONTHS. I literally saw a rock slide as I was getting off the boat because of the amount of rain they were getting. Of all the days in the year!! Needless to say, my off roading adventure was cancelled due to the weather. (I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, my plans ALWAYS fall through.)

I’m still glad I got to see Catalina Island and explore the cute little town of Avalon. If seriously felt like I was in another country and I completely forgot I was just a short boat ride from one of the largest cities in the US! I definitely want to go back and do the off roading tour one day soon!

At the dock facing the town of AvalonStreets of AvalonThe weather didn’t allow for good pictures of the island but it was truly something special. The forest/inland part of the island in the background (where I was supposed to be)

After getting back to solid land, I figured I would go to Griffith Park and Observatory. I knew I was going to be able to get some gorgeous pictures because the rain was clearing up and the sun was getting ready to set. After about a 3 mile hike up (and. Acn I made it to the top and the view was something truly impressive. From one point, you had the most perfect view of the Pacific Ocean, the mountain range and the Hollywood Sign! The sunset was breathtaking and the pictures were some of the best I’ve gotten in a while! I would definitely do that hike again for those views

At the top of Griffith Views all the way to the PacificMy favorite sunset shot from Griffith – looking over downtown LA and the PacificThe Hollywood Sign from Griffith ParkAnother favorite of downtown LA

Later that night, I drove around town just checking things out. I always like to try to find things that I’ve seen on TV before or try to find unexpected things. I drove up Mulholland Dr at night – which gave some good view points of the city too but pictures just couldn’t capture it. I also spent some time on Sunset, Robertson Blvd and in West Hollywood. Caught a glimpse of Sunset Hotel, Chateau Maramont and so many other places you hear of when talking about LA/Hollywood.

The next day (Dec 23), I got up early again for studio tours – I had decided I was going to do the Sony Tour and WB Tour. First was Sony. While I was there, I got to go on the set of Jeopardy and one of the highly anticipated shows on HBO but I can’t remember the name because I don’t watch the show I also saw the racecar from Talladega Nights, the RV from Breaking Bad, the cars from Ghostbusters.

Ghostbusters21 Jump StreetBreaking BadTalladega Nights Ghostbusters On the set of Jeopardy!These are real – and heavy!

The Sony Tour was fun but I enjoyed the WB tour a lot – probably because a lot of my favorite shows and movies were filmed at WB. Friends, Gilmore Girls, Pretty Little Liars, The Big Bang Theory, Oceans 11, The Wizard of Oz and sooo many more! I got to see the set of The Big Bang Theory (but we couldn’t take pictures:/). I also saw all of Batman’s batmobiles – my niece and nephew liked those pictures I even got to take a picture on the actual couch that was in Central Perk on Friends! I also got to hold/take pictures with an Academy Award, Emmy and Oscar. WB was definitely my favorite out of the two.

The WB water tourActual coffee shop set from Friends Stage 25 – home of The Big Bang Theory (one of my favorite shows!) We were able to go on set but wasn’t able to take any pictures:/ All the original Batmobiles

Day 3 was Christmas Eve. I didn’t have any specific plans for the day so I decided to go to several different places. I started out in Beverly Hills with some shopping on Rodeo Dr. (What better place to get yourself a birthday/Christmas present?!)

Palm tree lined streets – classic Cali

After just a little bit of shopping and some picture taking, I made my way to Hollywood. I went to two different museums – The Hollywood Museum and The Guinness World Record Museum. I enjoyed both of these museums a lot. The Hollywood Museum had a lot of LA/Hollywood history pieces and A TON of Marilyn Monroe stuff. It was interesting seeing a lot of that stuff – private pictures, coroner’s report, private items from her home/dressing room. They even had Clark Gable’s Rolls Royce!

Clark Gables Rolls Royce

I’ve never been really interested in old school Hollywood but it was fun seeing that type of stuff and could see where one could become very enthralled with it.

The World Record Museum was interesting too. A little fact about me – I loved those books in middle school. I would get really excited when the new one came out every year and couldn’t wait to read every word on every page! This museum was right up my alley…I had to make sure not to spend my entire afternoon there though

After the museums, I took a LONG walk down the Walk of Fame. I wanted to find some of my favorite names – Winnie the Pooh, Mickey Mouse, Jennifer Aniston, etc. I never found Pitt or Clooney though!

While in Hollywood, I also took a few moments to go to the Dolby Theatre, El Capitan, The Egyptian Theatre. I also saw the famous Capital Records building. I did some souvenir shopping too – mainly postcards because I’ve started a new thing with my nieces and nephews that I hope they love just as much as I do:)

After a few hours in Hollywood, I made my way to Santa Monica. I was ready for some beach pictures and to see the “world famous” Santa Monica Pier. I think my niece and nephew would really like the pier and I have to say coasters are a little bit better with an ocean side view!

On the last day of my trip, Christmas Day, I had to head back to Fresno. I decided to take the long way around and mark another item off my “bucket list”. One of the country’s best road trips is the drive up/down PCH so that’s what I decided to do. I would start in Santa Monica and head north to Monterrey before having to cut back over to Fresno. I was excited to see what made this particular coastal drive so incredible.

So many elephant seals

Morro Rock at Morro BayEntrance to Hearst Castle

I made my way through Santa Monica, Malibu, Santa Barbara and the views were gorgeous. The best part/views of the trip was around San Simeon/Big Sur/Morro Bay and farther north. I stopped and saw the elephant seal sanctuary and the entrance to Hearst Castle (it was closed because of the holiday). I also stopped and saw Morro Rock and probably the thing I was most excited for was Bixby bridge. It’s just one of those things you hear about when people talk about the PCH drive and now I can say I’ve been there, done that and have photo evidence

The views were incredible along the PCHBixby BridgeCoastal views

Overall, my first trip to LA/SoCal was a success. I definitely wished I could’ve spent those days with my family and friends, but I’m thankful for the memories of this trip. I’ve said it before and I mean it, I fully believe everyone should travel by themselves to do and experience things you may not have otherwise.

]]>https://aualum11.wordpress.com/2017/01/22/28-in-the-city-of-angels/feed/0aualum11gimg_4568Play Nice 2017❤️👌👍https://aualum11.wordpress.com/2017/01/09/play-nice-2017%e2%9d%a4%ef%b8%8f%f0%9f%91%8c%f0%9f%91%8d/
https://aualum11.wordpress.com/2017/01/09/play-nice-2017%e2%9d%a4%ef%b8%8f%f0%9f%91%8c%f0%9f%91%8d/#respondMon, 09 Jan 2017 06:05:14 +0000http://aualum11.wordpress.com/2017/01/09/play-nice-2017%e2%9d%a4%ef%b8%8f%f0%9f%91%8c%f0%9f%91%8d/More]]>So, I guess I should start off with “Happy New Year” since this is my first post of 2017. I’ll tell you what, 2016 was something else. It wasn’t too bad to me thankfully though!

I was able to start a new journey, a goal that has been heavy on my heart AND mind for quite some time – travel therapy. I really do love working in the therapy field and if you can’t tell, traveling is definitely a passion and very close to me.

I was able to mark quite a few things off my “bucket list” this year. Just to name a few – Las Vegas, Hoover Dam, Yosemite National Park, drive across country (although the trip was MUCH, MUCH quicker than I wanted due to time constraints – I’ll definitely have to do it again and preferably with someone else in the car with me this time!!), visit new states (New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada – slowly marking them off) and with this most recent trip, I marked off even more things…I’ll get into that a little later though.

Of course, with a new year usually comes new goals/resolutions/aspirations. I do have some goals that I’ve written down and will keep close to my heart this year but I also have a few that I’m willing to share right now.

One of the biggest things I want to work on this year is letting go of worry and anxiety. These two emotions have overrun my life at certain points and I’m hoping to change that or at least improve upon it this year.

Anxiety can be crippling and can cause so much undue stress and ultimately, in the long run, it makes things so much worse. Unfortunately, it is something I’ve dealt with for a very long time. I specifically remember an incident in 3rd grade that ended up sending me to the ER – 3RD GRADE! That’s crazy to think about now. I even had several full blown panic attacks where I couldn’t breath, had chest pain, etc – I’m talking brown paper bags panic attacks! Ultimately, everything was ok but to this day, I fully believe anxiety was the main issue with every panic attack I’ve ever had. So, that is one of the main things I hope to work on this year.

This scripture – which we discussed in church this past week – is a perfect reminder for letting go of stress, anxiety and worry.

Another goal I have for this year is MORETRAVEL! This one shouldn’t be too hard, especially if I continue with travel therapy. I finish my first assignment at the end of the week and will hopefully begin my next assignment close to the end of the month – we’re still searching for the right opportunity. (I’m taking a week off and heading back to the south to see my family!! I haven’t seen them since October and I’m ready to see my babies and the rest of my family/friends).

I don’t want to focus on just traveling itself but also the full experience of it. I want it to be more than just “marking things off my bucket list”. Certain places help you realize certain things and certain experiences can potentially change you for forever! I want to be able to see and understand whatever each place has to specifically offer me at that time.

I also want to do a better job at keeping this blog up to date. I don’t know if anyone I know reads it or if strangers read it or if it’s just something for me to do for myself – either way, writing has always played a big part in my life and what better way to remember experiences, new travel destinations and memories than having it written down for years to come! (If you do read it, I hope you like it and thank you!)

My other goals and resolutions are a little more private and I’m holding them close to my heart this year. Maybe at the start of 2018, I’ll fill you in but until then…we’ll just focus on the traveling and worrying less during the everyday!

When I get a little more time, a post will be coming filling you in about my “recent” trip to LA and Southern California. Until then, I hope everyone is doing well and having a good start to 2017!

]]>https://aualum11.wordpress.com/2017/01/09/play-nice-2017%e2%9d%a4%ef%b8%8f%f0%9f%91%8c%f0%9f%91%8d/feed/0aualum11What Happens in Vegas…https://aualum11.wordpress.com/2016/12/18/what-happens-in-vegas-2/
https://aualum11.wordpress.com/2016/12/18/what-happens-in-vegas-2/#commentsSun, 18 Dec 2016 06:16:48 +0000http://aualum11.wordpress.com/2016/12/18/what-happens-in-vegas-2/More]]>Stays in Vegas – unless you write a blog post or two about it.

In my last post, I was recapping my trip to Vegas last month (I know…it’s been a month and I still haven’t finished this recap). The whole point of my trip was for a Death Valley tour. However, like the majority of my plans, things got mixed up and my reservations were made for the wrong day by the booking company. So, my Saturday in Vegas was now wide open.

I had a full breakdown in my car in the hotel parking garage while talking on the phone with my mom. But, afterwards, I started figuring out what my next move would be (after getting a full refund because the company had already charged me over $200 for a tour I obviously didn’t go on).

I played with the idea of going to the Grand Canyon- somewhere that’s been on my travel list for a long time but it was about 4-5 hours away and I had to be in town for other plans later than night. Same situation with Yellowstone, Antelope Canyon, etc…but then my mom reminded me that the Hoover Dam was close by.

So, Saturday morning, I got in my car and drove about an hour away from the Las Vegas Strip towards Boulder City. The dam was definitely impressive and something to see at least once in your life. The Colorado River and mountains in the background make for a perfect backdrop.

Some of the plaques around the dam

Colorado River

Looking straight downAlways getting a selfie – repping my AU tigers Overlooking the dam and the Colorado River from the bridge This view though – slowly becoming obsessed

After my quick trip to the Hoover Dam (and Arizona), I made my way back to Vegas and my hotel for the night – SLS. SLS was my favorite hotel of the entire trip. It’s more modern and more my style; however, the big draw back is it’s so far from the main part of the strip (but there is a monorail stop AT this hotel which is very convenient). SLS is on the northern part of the strip, closer to Fremont St and the older part of Vegas.

On my way back into town, I stopped by a little shop – The Gold & Silver Pawn Shop aka the shop from Pawn Stars. My dad likes this show and I figured why not. When else would I be able to go there?! And yes, it is just like it is on TV.

After leaving the pawn shop, I went to the hotel for a few hours and to get ready for the night. I had tickets for a Cirque de Soleil show and I was excited. I saw KA at MGM Grand (on what happened to be a big fight night as well).

There were mixed reviews online about the show but it wasn’t a bad show overall. It was interesting enough and several times the cast members jumped right out in front of our row (we were the first row in our section). Would I see it again…probably not but it wasn’t bad and it was free for me (so I didn’t lose anything either way). I do want to see another show though – I think “O” or Mystere would be really good.

KA (Cirque du Soleil) at MGM GrandI was there for a big fight night too…who knew?! I don’t remember who the fight was between though…not my cup of tea.

After the show, I walked down the strip some. I had dinner/drinks at Guy Fieri’s bar and watched the USC game (definitely not the SEC though). I also went to some of the shops/casinos/hotels to see some of the designs and architecture. I had some gelato at The Venetian and watched some of the gondolas go by. You can’t come to Vegas and not see that!

Last day in town, I did some shopping at the outlets (of course! I love outlet shopping❤️). I decided to go a different way back home and went through the desert….legit desert . But, my oh my was it gorgeous! So glad I took that drive instead of the same way I came into town.

Pictures DO NOT do it justice! Miles and miles of desert, mountains and clouds.

All in all, my first trip to Vegas was a success. I definitely want to go back and I still want to do the Death Valley tour some day soon.

My goal is to see more Cirque de Soleil shows and stay at many different hotels on the strip to see which one I like best. So far, SLS gets my vote!
What’s coming up next for my traveling heart:

My next trip is coming up in a little less than a week! I can’t go home for my birthday/Christmas this year so I decided to go somewhere close by. LA seemed like a good choice – I’ve never been and I want to go. It’s all about new experiences and marking things off my travel wish list.

I’ve got some things planned out/are interested in but I need some more ideas/opinions. If you know of good places in LA or surrounding areas, let me know!

Hopefully, the next few posts won’t take over a month to get up

Until then…I hope everyone has a safe and very Merry Christmas! Enjoy your family and remember what this time is truly about. ❤️